A cobporation of bxlawabb



0a. 17s', 1932. H. F. SMITH 1,883,024l

REPMGERATINGOR. AIR coNDlTINING APPARATUS.

Filed Nov.4 '29. 1950 Q 6o` v 50/ l 6'2 sa J/-76 l .',I' @E90 75 as 7 473 8 INYEgZoR www 3u W ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 18, 1932 HARRY l'. SMITH,OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO 0F DAYTON, omo, A conroiwrron or nmwmnmmmrme on .am 'comarrromo 'mmrus Application led November 29, Seriallo. 09,080. U E D This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus andmore particularly to an apparatus for conditioning air in rooms.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide for the automaticreduction of relative humidity in rooms.

Another object is to provide an apparatus capable of carrying out theforegoing object, which apparatus is portable and which is adapted to beplaced adjacent a window or other opening leading to the outsideatmosphere for utilizing air outside of the buildlng as an aid inconcentrating the means emclearly shown. In the drawing:

ployed for treating the air in the room to thus maintain the air in the-room at the proper relative humidity.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to p theaccompanying drawing, wherein a pre'- ferred form of the presentinvention 1s The gure in the drawing is a diagrammatic illustration ofthe invention.

An apparatus embodying features of this invention comprises an airconditioningdevice designated in general by the numeral 20. The device20 comprisesin general an intake flue 22, discharge iiue 24 and an airtreating zone or flue 26. The device 2O is adapted to be placed adjacenta window or opening 28 with the intake and discharge iuecommunicatingwith the outside atmosphere. The device 20 is adapted to treat the airin rooms, and for example, as shown inthe drawing the room 29. Thedevice 20 is provided with a fan 32 operated by an electric motor 33,which fan circulates air from the exterior of the room or buildingthrough the intake and vdischarge iues 22 and 24 respectively.

he air passing through the discharge iiue together with other meansabout to be described are adapted to condition a liquid absorbing orhygroscopic agent to thus place the absorbing agent in its proper degree.of concentration. It is then circulated through the air treating zone26 to reduce the relative humidity in the room 29 to a desirablecondition, more fully hereinafter-described.

Referring in detail to the drawing the iue 24 is provlded with aplurality of downwardly slpling overlapping batlles having a plur 'ty ofinterconnected steam pipes 42 `secured to the underside of each bafie.Thelowermost bailie 40 is providedv with a trough 45 having a pipe 46leading to a coiled condenser 48 adapted to be cooled by aircirculatedby the fan 32. The condenser 48 is connected by pipe 50 to apump 52 adapted to be actuated by the motor 33. The Hue 26 is providedwitlna plurality of downwardly sloping overlapping baiiles 55, and atrough 57 located below the lowermost baille 55. Thel trough 57 isprovided with a pipe 60 leading to apump 62 which is adapted to beactuated by motor 33. The iue 26 is also provided with a fan 65 actuatedby motor 33 for circulating air about the room 29 and into and out ofthe air treating zone 26, the air entering the zone through a screenedopening 68 and being discharged adjacent the top of the device/20through a screened opening 70.

The steam coils 42 are ada ted to be supplied by a heater or steam4boller 75 through a supply pipe 76 and a return pipe 78. Ob-

lviously, the heater or steam boiler 75 may provide either steam orhotwater as desired, it being understood that when steam is mentionedspecifically it may ordinarily be replaced by hot water. The temperaturein the heater or boiler 75 is preferably maintained constant byproviding a thermostat 80 which lcontrols the action of the valve 82which controls the combustion in the burner 85. The burner 85 may be agas burner and may be thus supplied with gasthrough a pipe 86. Air forthe combustion of 'the burner 85 is preferably provided by means of anair duct 88 which is,connected to the outside of the building, while theproducts of combustion are carried away by means of a pipe 90 to asuitable chimney also leading to the outside of the building. Preferablythe heater 75 is located in the basement of the building. The supplyandv return pipes connected to the boilermay be laid to as many rooms as100 of which takes place in a manner steam supply and return pipestherewith.

The operation of the device is as follows: The liquid absorbing orhygroscopic agent,

which may be a solution of calcium chloride,

lithium chloride, bromide or iodide, glycerine .or the like, isdelivered to the discharge 'flue 24 by means of pump 62 through a pipe95. The liquid discharge by pipe 95 flows dow the steam heated baffles40 and into the trough 45 whence it passes through the condenser 48 andinto the pump 52. The liquid in passing over the steam heated baiiieswill have the excess moisture evaporated therefrom andl while passingthrough the condenser, which is cooled by the outside atmosphere, willbe cooled substantially to the temperature of the outside atmosphere.This circulation of the liquid absorbing agent through the dischargeflue will impart thereto a predetermined degree of concentration. Theconcentrated liquid is then circulated to the air treating zone 2,6 bymeans of pumps 52 through a pipe 100. The liquid discharged by pipe 100iiows downwardly over the baffles 55 Where it contacts with thecirculating room air, thereby dehy drating the air and supplying thetreated air to the room at a reduced relative humidity. The liquidabsorbing agent is then returned to pump 62 through trough 67 and pipe60.

In order to control the amount of steam passing through the coils 42 Ihave provided a steam valve 105 adapted to be controlled by a thermostat107 responsive to the temperature of the liquid received in the trough45. Y This arrangement insures a predetermined degree of concentrationof the liquid irrespective of outside air temperatures, if a sufficienttime is provided for the evaporation at the temperature determined bythe thermostat 107.

If desired, a room temperature responsive switch 110 may be provided.The switch 110 is adapted to control the steam valve 105 and stop themotor 33 when' the temperature in the room 29 attains a predeterminedlow point by reason of natural temperature changes in the atmosphere.The switch 1,10 may also be provided with a manual control for stoppingthe operation or" the device when desired.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed,constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An apparatus for conditioning air in a room comprising an intakefiue, a discharge flue communicating with said intake iiue, said iuescommunicating with the atmosphere outside said room, means forcirculating a hygroscopic liquid through said discharge fiue, means insaid discharge flue for imparting to said liquid a predetermined degreeof uconcentration at substantially atmospheric temperature, said lattermeans comprising a steam conduit and means for cooling the liquid, anair treating zone for the air in the room, means for circulating the airin said room through said zone and means for contacting the concentratedliquid with said circulating air in said treating zone.

2. An apparatus for conditioning air in a room comprising an intakeflue, a discharge flue communicating with said intake flue, said luescommunicating` with the atmosphere outside said room, means forcirculating a hygroscopic liquid through said discharge iiue, means insaid discharge iue for imparting to said liquid a predetermined degreeof concentration at substantially atmospheric temperature, said lattermeans comprising a steam. conduit and an air cooled condenser forcooling the liquid, an air treating zone for the air in the room, meansfor circulating the air in said room through said Zone and means forcontacting 'the concentrated liquid with said circulating air in saidtreating zone.

3. An apparatus for conditioning air in a troom comprising an intakeflue, a discharge iue communicating with said intake flue, said iuescommunicating with the atmosphere outside said room, means forcirculating'ahygroscopic liquid through ,said discharge 'ue, means insaid discharge iue for impartingto said liquid a predetermined degree ofconcentration at substantially atmospheric temperature, said lattermeans comprising a steam conduit and means for cooling the liquid, meansfor controlling the amount of steam passing through said conduit, an airtreating zone for the air in the room, means for circulating the air" insaid room through said zone and means for contacting the concentratedliquid with said circulating air in said treating zone.

4. An apparatus for conditioning air in a room comprising an intakeflue, a discharge iiue communicating with 'said intake iiue, said luescommunicating with the atmosphere outside said room, said discharge fluebeing provided with a plurality of downwardly sloping overlappingbaiiies, means for circulating a hygroscopic liquid through saiddischarge flue, means in said discharge flue for imparting to saidliquid a predetermined degree of concentration, said latter meanscomprising, a plurality of interconnected steam coils secured to theunderside of each of said bafies and an air cooled coiled condenseradapted to receive the liquid from said baffles, an air treating zonefor the air in the room, means for circulating the .air in said roomthrough said zone, and means n? circulating a) hygroscopic liquidthrough said for contacting` the concentrated liquid with saidcirculating air in said treating zone.

5. An apparatus for conditionin air in a room comprising an intake Hue,a discharge Hue cmmunicatingwith said intaken flue; said Huescommunicating with the atmosphere outside said room, a fan forcirculating air through said Hues, a motor for operating said fan, apump operated by said motor for said motor for delivering the liquid tosaid arLtreating zone for contacting the concentrated liquid with saidcirculating air vin said zoile, and means for controlling the operaythrough said Hues, a motor for operating said tion of said motor.

6. A n apparatus for conditioning air in a room comprising 'an intakeHue, a discharge Hue communicating with -said intake Hue, said Huescommunicating with the atmosphere out-l side Said room, a fan forcirculating air fan, a pump operated by said motor for circulating ahygroscopicliquid through said discharge Hue, means in said dischargeHue for imparting to said liquid a predetermineda degree ofconcentration at substantially atmospheric temperature, said lattermeans. comprising a steam conduit, a va ve for controlling 'the amountof steam passing through `said-conduit and an air cooled condenserfanair treating zone for the air in theJ room, a fan actuated by said motorfor: circulating the air in said room through ,said zone, a pumpactuated by said motor for delivering the liquid to said air treatingzone for contacting the concentrated liquid with said circulating air insaid zone, and means,` for controlling the operation of the motor, saidlatter means also controlling said valve. o

'7.1 A portable apparatus for conditioning air in a room comprising anintakeHuc, a discharge Hue communicating with' said intake Hue, saidapparatus ovbeing adapted lto be laced adjacent an opening in the 'roomleadlng to the outside atmosphere with said intakel and discharge Huescommunicating with the outside "atmosphere, means for circulating ahygroscopic liquid through said ydischarge Hue, means in 'said-dischargeHue for imparting to saidfliquid a redetermined degree of concentrationat su stantially atmosphericV temperature, an air treating zone for theair in e room, means for circulating 4the airinsaid room-through'saidzone and meansfor room and having air intake and air dischargeconnections in the room, means for conditioning the air passing throughsaid connections,

air intake and air discharge connections in a window of said room, andmeans for contacting'air passing through said last named conf nectionswith said means for conditioning the air.

In testimony whereof I hereto aHix my signature. l

HARRY F. SMITH.

contacting the concentrated ligui'dwith said -l circulating air in saidtreating zone;

room, sai apparatusbeinglocated in said anparatus for condltioning air.iin a mil

